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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 28 Nov 1968

Vol. 237 No. 9

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - House Purchase Grants.

16.

asked the Minister for Local Government when the present local government grant of £300 for house purchase was first introduced.

17.

asked the Minister for Local Government when the local authority house purchase grant was first introduced.

With your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 17 together.

The State grant of £300 for a serviced house in an area where no public piped water supply or public sewerage scheme has been provided was introduced by the Housing (Amendment) Act, 1958.

Local authorities were empowered by the Housing (Amendment) Act, 1950, to pay supplementary grants for new houses but only limited use was made of this provision which was replaced by more effective powers in the Housing (Amendment) Act, 1952.

18.

asked the Minister for Local Government when he proposes to increase the present local government grant of £300 on house purchase.

19.

asked the Minister for Local Government when the local authority house purchase grant will be increased.

With your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 19 together.

The scale of State and supplementary housing grants is kept under continuous review in my Department, having regard particularly to needs, demand, and resources, and will come up for consideration in conjunction with other amendments of the Housing Act, 1966, which are at present being examined.

In present day conditions and with the very high cost of housing, would the Minister think that £300 is anything approaching a realistic figure?

It is a substantial figure and the question of whether or not it should be raised is under consideration.

Does the Minister consider that this grant should be nearly doubled now? When the grant was first introduced, the cost of living was at a proper level. Now £300 is not even one-half of the amount of the deposit that is required. A deposit of £1,000 is required at the moment.

I never met anybody who thought that the cost of living was at a proper level.

Would the Minister answer my question? Does he consider that a grant of £300 on a new house is appropriate in present conditions?

The question of whether it should be increased is under consideration.

When will it be increased?

I do not know whether it will be increased at all or not. The question is under consideration.

Does the Minister think there is a need to increase it?

That question is under consideration.

Will the Minister state if he thinks it should be increased?

I will answer that when the consideration has been completed.

The Minister is not answering the question.

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